With a Ford at the helm, Pentastar shines bright in Detroit Motor City

NBAA-BACE 2023

Pentastar Aviation FBO Approaching Diamond Anniversary

Edsel Ford opens up on what's worked, and what has not in Pentastar's business plan

The lobby of Pentastar Aviation — With a presence at Detroit-area Oakland County International Airport for four decades, Pentastar Aviation has become a model of consistency and customer service. (Photo: Curt Epstein/AIN)

By Curt Epstein • Business Aviation Services Editor

October 14, 2023

Edsel Ford II, the great-grandson of automobile innovator Henry Ford, fell in love with corporate aviation at an early age, relishing the occasional trip with his father on Ford Motor Company flight department aircraft. Much later, after working as an executive for the family business for several decades and stepping down from its board of directors in 2001, Ford heard rumors that fellow automaker Daimler Chrysler was looking to sell its FBO at Detroit-area Oakland County International Airport (KPTK).

Though the rumors also indicated that there was already an interested buyer, Ford contacted the company and found that Daimler Chrysler’s v-p of strategy was a former Ford employee with whom he had worked. “I called him up and said, 'I’m interested,'” Ford told AIN. “He knew me, I knew him, and he was going to give me a fair price. There were very few issues, and we closed pretty quickly.” He then restored the name Pentastar Aviation (Booth N4702), which the FBO had used before the Daimler-Chrysler merger.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.